Combined bottle closure and dispensing device



Aug. 14, 1956 E. F. CARPENTER 2,758,759

COMBINED BOTTLE CLOSURE AND DISPENSING DEVICE I Filed Aug. 31, 1953 Edwon F. Cavpevfl'er INVENTOR.

- Ggevd' United States Patent COMBDWED BOTTLE CLOSURE AND DISPENSING DEVICE This invention relates to a bottle closure device and more particularly to a removable closure for a container for carbonated beverages.

Bottled carbonated beverages are generally originally closed by means of a crown cap. Once the cap has been removed it cannot ordinarily be replaced to reseal flie top of the bottle against the escape of carbon dioxide gas. Most replacement closures, designed heretofore to preserve the carbonation in an opened and partially used bottle, have been characterized by the disadvantage of having to be removed from the top of the bottle each time additional beverage is poured therefrom. In addition prior devices have either been inefficient in operation or complicated in structure, relying generally upon manually operated mechanical sealing means of various types.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a combined closure and dispensing device for use with a previously opened carbonated beverage bottle. A further object of this invention is to provide a simple closure device for preserving the carbonation in an opened beverage bottle. A still further object is to provide a closure and dispensing device which may be used to control the amount of carbonated beverage dispensed from a bottle. These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof and from the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a general sectional view of the combined bottle closure and dispensing device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 1 taken. along the lines 22.

Fig. 3 is a general side view of the device of Fig. l, partly broken out.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 the device of this invention comprises a hollow, bulbous body member which terminates at its lower end in cylindrical portion 11. This cylindrical portion 11 is threaded on its outer surface to mate with corresponding threads on the inner surface of tubular attaching member 12. The

. lower end of member 12 terminates in a short semicircular extension provided with an in-turned lip 13 as will .b'e-made apparent from Figs. 2 and 3, the lip 13- being arranged so as to engage the groove in the top of a bottle which normally accommodates the in-turned edges of the original crown cap. Within the tubular member 12 is annular gasket 14, advantageously made of rubber or similar material, and which abuts the lower edge of body member 10.

At the top of body member 10 and communicating with the? interior thereof is flaring, dispensing spout 15 which at" its inner end is of configuration to form a seal with the surface of ball 16 which is contained within 2,758,759 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 ice body of the device yet permit substantially unimpeded passage of liquid therethrough.

In operation the device of this invention is installed on the top of a bottle containing carbonated beverage after the original crown cap has been removed. Installation is accomplished by sliding the top of the bottle into tubular member 12 through the side opening therein, the lip 13 engaging the groove just below the topof the bottle. Then either the body 10 or the tubular member 12 is rotated with respect to the other, turning on the threads to bring the top surface of the bottle into tight sealing engagement with gasket 14. The bottle may be tilted to a more or less horizontal position to dispense liquid through the spout 15, the ball 16 meanwhile lying in the central portion of body 10. To shut oif the beverage flow the bottle may be completely inverted whereupon the ball 16 falls into engagement with the inner end of spout 15. If it is desired to seal the bottle it is gently whirled or shaken while in the inverted position to release gas from the beverage and to build up internal pressure which will maintain the ball in sealing engagement with the spout opening even when the bottle is returned to the upright position. It may then be stored more or less indefinitely without loss of carbonation.

To reopen the bottle the ball 16 is forced downward against the internal gas pressure so as to break its seal with the spout opening. This may be accomplished with a finger or any adaptable kitchen or household tool, the flare of the spout providing convenient access to the ball without detracting from its function in directing liquid flow.

While this invention has been described and illustrated by the embodiment shown it is not intended to be strictly limited thereto and other variations and modifications may be employed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bottle closure and dispensing device comprising: a bulbous, hollow body having a spout communicating therewith through an opening at its top, a ball freely movable in said body and of diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of said body adapted to close the spout opening on inverting said body, restraining means adapted to maintain said ball in said body when in an upright position, and means for attaching the bottom of said body in sealing engagement to the top of a previously opened carbonated beverage bottle.

2. A bottle closure and dispensing device comprising: a bulbous, hollow body having a flaring spout communieating therewith through an opening at its top, a ball freely movable in said body and of diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of said body adapted to close the spout opening on inverting the said body, restraining means adapted to maintain said ball in said body when in upright position, and means for attaching the bottom of said body in sealing engagement to the top of a previously opened carbonated beverage bottle.

3. A bottle closure and dispensing device comprising: a bulbous, hollow body having a spout communicating therewith through an opening at its top, a ball freely movable in said body and of diameter substantially less than the internal diameter of said body adapted to close the spout opening on inverting said body, restraining means adapted to maintain said ball in said body when in upright position, and a tubular member threaded onto the bottom of said body having a semicircular extension provided with an integral in-turned lip for attaching said body in sealing engagement to the top of a previously opened carbonated beverage bottle.

4. A bottle closure and dispensing device comprising: a bulbous, hollow body having a spout communicating therewith through an opening at its top, a ball freely References Cited in the file of this patent fiibvaible in "said body ahdo f diameter substantially less UNITED STATES PATENTS than the internal diameter of said body adapted to close the spout opening on inverting said body, a wire member spanning the throat of said body to maintain the ball in 1,027,421 Jungclas y 1912 said bod-ywheh i'n -iifiright pbsition,andJneans fOT attaeh- 5 1,133,698 Barney 30, 1915 ing thebottom of said body insealingengagenrmctnttre FOREIGN PATENTS top of a previbusly opened carbonated beverage bottle. 30,011 Austria g; Sept 25, 1907 87,516 Austria Mar. 10, 1922 

